原文:
Introduction
In professional web design circles, the usability testing session has become an essential component of any major project. Similar to focus groups in brand development and product launches, usability testing offers a rare opportunity to receive feedback from the very people the website is aimed at - before it's too late to do anything about it.

But how can you get the most from these usability testing sessions?

1. Choosing your subjects
As with any market research project, the results will only be as good as the people you test. Do not test people from your own company, or friends and family. Go to a market research firm or temp agency and ask them to source participants to a certain profile. Make sure the market research firm does not provide the name of the company or any other details that will cloud the judgement of the participants.

2. Before the usability testing
As with everything in life, first impressions are vital. Each participant must be put at ease. Remember, the usability testing session is often an extremely artificial environment and, for the most beneficial and informative results, we want them to behave as if they were using the site at home or work.

Provide clear instructions on how to get to the usability testing location, and if necessary meet the participants at local stations. Do not use terms such as usability testing or market research, as these can confuse and put people on edge. Also, ensure that participants know how long the usability testing will take, and the type of tasks they will be expected to perform.

After the initial greeting and welcoming drinks, there are always legal forms that must be signed. It is essential that these are written in plain English, and are as short as possible. The last thing any nervous usability testing subject wants is to be given a contract that looks like they're signing their soul away. All you want is for them to be reassured that the tests are completely confidential, and for permission to use the data generated during the test as part of our results. So tell them that.

3. Beginning the usability testing
Before diving into key tasks, get the user familiar with the environment. Tell them the website's name and URL, and ask them for initial feedback on what they would expect from the site or what they would like the site to be. Make note of any terms or phrases they use - this not only demonstrates you are taking their feedback seriously, but may provide useful tips as to possible labels for key functionality or navigation.

Next, let them look at the website they are testing. Gauge their first impressions before allowing them to familiarise themselves with the site.

These few simple tasks will help convince the participant that the usability testing will not be difficult and, perhaps most importantly, that they're not the ones being tested.

4. Choosing tasks
Set tasks that are essential to the new site's suclearcase/" target="_blank" >ccess, such as:

*Buying products
*Paying bills
*Contacting the client

Remember, you're not looking for an ego massage. The site was built for a reason - can your target audience do what you need them to do?

It's also a good idea to ask the user to suggest tasks. While this gives another indication of their expectations and requirements, it may suggest new functionality or priorities.

5. How to word tasks
People tend to perform more naturally if you provide them with scenarios rather than instructions. When giving them tasks, you should use phrases like Scenario A has occurred, and you need to ring the company urgently - find the telephone number. This is far better than find the contact us section of the site.

6. Presenting tasks
Only give participants one task at a time. More than this may intimidate them, or alter their approach to the test.

If the user is required to use inputs from outside the test (e.g. an email giving them a password to the site), give them these inputs in the form they will be presented. This will provide useful feedback on all elements of the process, rather than simply the site.

7. How to behave during the usability testing
It's essential that you remember that it's the website that is being tested, not you or the subject. Any feedback you get is valuable - make sure the participant knows this. If they can't do something, make sure they know it's not their fault.

You must stay quiet and out of sight during the test. You must not alter the test results by providing clues, suggesting directions or by reacting to things they say or do. All feedback you give must be neutral. Do not start shaking your head or huffing, however tempting it might be!

The only time you should speak is to help the participant give an opinion, or to clarify a response. If in doubt, shut up!

Given the investment made in the project, clients often find it difficult to be quiet during tests. If your client wants to be present, put them in another room with an audio/video link.

8. After the usability testing
After all the tasks have been completed, you should gather as much information as possible. Asking for overall impressions of the site will allow you to judge whether expectations have been met, and whether the participant's view of the client or site has changed during the process.

Always ask for suggestions - this not only demonstrates the value you place on their thoughts, but may provide insights into how the site can better support the user.

Finally, ask the participant what they remember about the site structure and functions of the site. Clear recollection will confirm that the site is structured logically and help identify any labelling issues you may have missed.
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譯文:

進行可用性測試的8個指南

引言:
在專業的web設計圈，可用性測試會議已經成為任何重點項目的一個基本組成部分。對于關注品牌發展和產品開發的人群來來說，可用性測試是提供獲取網站目標人群的反饋意見的寶貴機會，并且應該盡早開始.
但是你怎樣才能從這些可用性測試會議中收獲最多的東西呢？

1. 選擇你的課題
 正如任何市場研究項目，結果和你需要測試的人一樣，不要以你自己公司的人或者朋友以及家人作為測試人群?？梢匀ト魏我患沂袌鲅芯抗净蛘吲R時代理機構和他們溝通關于這個課題的參與者。確定市場研究公司不會提供公司的名稱或任何其它細節，從而避免這些東西影響參與者的判斷。

2.可用性測試前期
就如生命中的任何事情，第一印象是最關鍵的，每個參與者必須很放松。記住，可用性測試會議室通常是一個極端人造的環境，并且最有益和最具信息的結果就是，我們希望他們他們的行為就像他們在家里或者辦公室里一樣。
為如何到達可用性測試場所提供清晰的指引，必要的話，在當地會見這些參與者。不要使用諸如“可用性測試”或者“市場調查”這樣的術語，因為這些會干擾參與者并使他們緊張。同樣，確保參與者知道可用性測試時間需要多久，希望他們執行的任務類型是什么。
在最開始的問候和歡迎酒之后，通常會簽署一些法定的條款。 這些用最通俗易懂的的英文來書寫是很重要的，并且要盡可能的簡短。最后一件事是任何一個緊張的可用性測試項目需要的，就是給一份類似他們簽署的東西的合同。對于他們來說，你想要的全部就是保證這些測試是完全保密的，并且在測試過程中，作為我們測試結果的一部分允許生成數據。所以告訴他們這些。

3.可用性測試的開始
在進入到關鍵任務之前，先讓使用者熟悉環境，告訴他們網站的名稱和URL，并且詢問他們他們所喜歡的網站的類型是什么以及他們希望從他們喜歡的網站獲得什么信息或者需求，從而來獲得反饋。將他們使用的任何術語和語句都做下筆記，這并不僅僅代表你正在認真地對待他們的反饋，而且對于關鍵的功能性和導航性的可用標簽可以提供有用的東西。
其次，讓他們看看他們所測試的網站，在他們熟悉網站之前度量他們最初的印象。

4.選擇任務
設定任務對于一個新網站的成功是至關重要的，例如：（某電子商務網站）
.購買東西
.付錢
.聯系顧客
記住，你并不是在尋找自我信息。網站的建立是有原因的-你的目標觀眾是不是在做你希望他們做的事情？
詢問用戶來建議任務也是一個很好的主意，雖然這會給出他們期望和需求的另一種暗示，但是這可能建議了新的功能性和優先性。

5.怎樣來寫任務
如果你給定他們一定的情節而不是指令，人們趨向于更自然的行為。當給定他們任務時，你可能會使用這樣的句子“事件A已經發生，你現在需要馬上撥打公司電話-找到電話號碼”。這比“找到網站的聯系我們的部分”要好得多。

6.提出任務
一個事件只給參與者一個任務，這樣會讓他們更快或者改變他們到達測試的路徑。
如果使用者從測試外部需要進行用戶輸入（例如：一個email地址讓他們輸入密碼進入網站），在給他們提出的任務的表格中給出他們這些輸入項。者將給整個過程的所有元素提供有用的反饋，而不是簡化網站。

7.在可用性測試過程中如何執行
記住正在測試的網站非常重要，不僅是你或者課題，而且包括任何你獲取的有價值的反饋-確保參與者也要知道這一點。如果他們什么也做不了，要讓他們確信這不是他們的錯。
在整個測試過程中你必須保持安靜并且視而不見。你不能通過提供線索，暗示方向或他們所說或所作事情的反應來改變測試結果，年給出的所有反饋都必須中立的。不要搖頭或發怒，但是可以誘惑！
唯一你能說話的時間就是幫助參與者給出他們的觀點或者闡明的時候給予一個響應，如果存有疑惑，那就閉嘴！
讓投資者參與項目，客戶通常很難在測試過程中保持沉默，如果你的客戶想在場，把他們安排在另一間有聲音和視頻連接的房間.

8.可用性測試之后
在完成所有的測試之后，你應當匯集盡可能多的信息，詢問對網站的整體印象將使你能夠判斷是否已達到預期的期望，而不管參與者對于客戶或者網站的觀點在這個過程中是否發生了改變。
經常的詢問建議-這不僅證明你對他們想法的價值的認同，而且能更好的洞察網站如何才能更好的支持用戶。
最后，詢問參與者他們所能記住的網站的結構和功能。清晰的回憶將會確認網站結構的邏輯性并幫助識別任何你可能忽略的分類標簽.

個人理解：
1，清晰明了，為什么要做這個測試，測試的目的性，和最后得到的結果。如果是和外部參與的話請注意保密性和盡量減少由于外部的參與而對結果樣本的影響.
2，有關前期準備的一些細節上的準備.
3，暖場和模擬用戶環境等任務前期的動作.
4，回應第一步，理解和設計用戶參與測試的測試任務以及完成.
5，在模擬和設計用戶虛擬任務過程中的注意事項.
6，對于虛擬任務的執行.
7，過程控制，和注意事項.
8，測試后期的處理.

個人認為，此文章更多的是提供了一個測試的思路，而實際的狀況卻是千百萬化的，每個網站的目的性和用戶，以及前期的習慣的培養和養成都是不同的。此文的價值和意義更多的在于是提供了思路和流程性發散的建議，而不是一個模式的套路。